32 research outputs found

    Analysis of MicroRNA Expression in the Prepubertal Testis

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    Only thirteen microRNAs are conserved between D. melanogaster and the mouse; however, conditional loss of miRNA function through mutation of Dicer causes defects in proliferation of premeiotic germ cells in both species. This highlights the potentially important, but uncharacterized, role of miRNAs during early spermatogenesis. The goal of this study was to characterize on postnatal day 7, 10, and 14 the content and editing of murine testicular miRNAs, which predominantly arise from spermatogonia and spermatocytes, in contrast to prior descriptions of miRNAs in the adult mouse testis which largely reflects the content of spermatids. Previous studies have shown miRNAs to be abundant in the mouse testis by postnatal day 14; however, through Next Generation Sequencing of testes from a B6;129 background we found abundant earlier expression of miRNAs and describe shifts in the miRNA signature during this period. We detected robust expression of miRNAs encoded on the X chromosome in postnatal day 14 testes, consistent with prior studies showing their resistance to meiotic sex chromosome inactivation. Unexpectedly, we also found a similar positional enrichment for most miRNAs on chromosome 2 at postnatal day 14 and for those on chromosome 12 at postnatal day 7. We quantified in vivo developmental changes in three types of miRNA variation including 5′ heterogeneity, editing, and 3′ nucleotide addition. We identified eleven putative novel pubertal testis miRNAs whose developmental expression suggests a possible role in early male germ cell development. These studies provide a foundation for interpretation of miRNA changes associated with testicular pathology and identification of novel components of the miRNA editing machinery in the testis

    Nonlinear Effects in Osmotic Volume Flows of Electrolyte Solutions through Double-Membrane System

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    The results of experimental study of volume osmotic flows in a double-membrane system are presented in this article. The double-membrane system consists of two membranes (M-u, M-d) oriented in horizontal planes and three identical compartments (u, m, d), containing unstirred binary or ternary ionic solutions. In this system concentrations of the solutions fulfil the following conditions C-us = C-ds <C-ms (s = 1 or 2). Solutions of aqueous potassium chloride or ammonia were used as binary solutions, whereas potassium chloride dissolved in aqueous ammonia solution or ammonia dissolved in aqueous potassium chloride solution were used as ternary solutions. For binary solutions, the dependencies of a volume flux (J(v)) on potassium chloride or ammonia concentration (C-ms) are linear, whereas for ternary solutions these dependencies are nonlinear. The volume flux amplification and the osmotic conductivity coefficients were calculated on the basis of experimental data. The coefficient of the volume flux amplification for ternary solutions in comparison to binary ones depends on solutes concentrations and has maximum values dependent on solutes concentrations. Similarly, the osmotic conductivity coefficient has maximal values dependent on solutes concentrations. Moreover, the thermodynamic model of the osmotic volume flux was developed and the results were interpreted within the gravitational instability category
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